James Dillon is one of the UK’s most internationally celebrated and performed composers. The recipient of a number of prizes and awards including the Kranichsteiner Musikpreis and the Japan Foundation Artist Scholarship, he has also won an unprecedented four Royal Philharmonic Society awards, and most recently was awarded a BASCA British Composer Award for Stabat Mater dolorosa.
In 1983, Dillon’s First String Quartet received its premiere from the Arditti Quartet at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. The Arditti Quartet has remained closely involved with the composer, having premiered and widely performed Dillon’s subsequent quartets, and Huddersfield is one of the many festivals to regularly feature Dillon’s music, most recently as Composer in Residence in 2014. In 2016, the Arditti Quartet premiered The Gates, for string quartet and orchestra, at Donaueschinger Musiktage.
Nine Rivers, an enormous three-and-a-half hour sequence of works composed over more than two decades, was first performed by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 2010 and has subsequently been heard in New York and at the 2013 Holland Festival to great acclaim. It was conceived as a collection of works with ‘internal symmetries’ and is indicative of Dillon’s tendency to think in terms of large-scale, complementary forms. In the mid-1980s, Dillon began a ‘German Triptych’, a set of works based on the idea of ‘illumination as the emanation from darkness’, which Richard Toop described as ‘a music full of figures which, like the stars, are intense, yet seem almost infinitely far away’. Other grouped works include L’évolution du vol, a song cycle for female voice and ensemble and The Book of Elements, a cycle in five volumes for piano.
Dillon’s music has been published exclusively by Peters Edition since 1982.
For further information:
Leipzig London New York
C. F. Peters Ltd. & Co. KG Peters Edition Ltd C. F. Peters Corporation Talstraße 10 2 – 6 Baches Street 520 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2005 D-04103 Leipzig London N1 6DN New York, NY 10018 Deutschland UK USA +49 (0) 341 9897 9231 +44 (0) 20 7553 4034 stefan.conradi@editionpeters.com newmusic@editionpeters.com gene.caprioglio@editionpeters.com
Solos
amethyst (2018) 1 minute 30 seconds
Solo Piano
For Ian Pace’s 50th birthday, 2018 EP 73203
Birl (1986) 1 minute
Solo Harpsichord
First performed March 1987, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, by Michael Finnissy EP 7353
The Book of Elements Vols. 1–5 (1997–2002) c. 80 minutes Solo Piano EP 7488
(Each volume also available separately. See below)
The Book of Elements Vol.1 (1997) 17 minutes
Solo Piano
Commissioned by the Sydney Spring Festival for Roger Woodward First performed September 1997, Sydney Spring Festival, by Roger Woodward EP 7488a
The Book of Elements Vol.2 (2001) c. 15 minutes
Solo Piano Commissioned by the WDR for Westphalian Musikfest 2001, Hagen
First performed June 2001, Westphalian Musikfest, Hagen, by Noriko Kawai EP 7488b
The Book of Elements Vol.3 (2001) c. 15 minutes
Solo Piano Commissioned by the Berlin Biennale for Ian Pace First performed March 2001, Berlin Biennale, by Ian Pace EP 7488c
The Book of Elements Vol.4 (2002) c. 15 minutes
Solo Piano Commissioned by Musica Strasbourg with funds from the French Ministry of Culture for Rolf Hind First performed 26 September 2002, Musica Strasbourg, by Rolf Hind EP 7488d
The Book of Elements Vol.5 (2002) c. 15 minutes
Solo Piano Commissioned by the Britten-Pears Foundation and private sponsors for Nicolas Hodges First performed 1 December 2002, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, by Nicolas Hodges EP 7488e
The Book of Elements Vol.5 was awarded the 2003 Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Chamber-scale Composition.
Charm (2008) 4 minutes
Solo Piano
First performed 26 November 2009, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, by Noriko Kawai EP 71738
La coupure (c.1989–2000) 60 minutes
Percussion (1 player) and Live Electronics (part 5 of the Nine Rivers Cycle Commissioned by IRCAM, Ars Musica and Archipel
First performed March 2000, IRCAM, Paris, by Steve Schick EP 7405
Crossing Over (1978) 8 minutes
Solo Clarinet
First performed April 1983, South Bank, London, by Roger Heaton EP 7303
Del Cuarto Elemento (1988) 9 minutes
Solo Violin
Commissioned by the Greater London Arts Association
First performed July 1988, Almeida Festival, London, by Irvine Arditti EP 7366
Diffraction (1984) 3 minutes
Solo Piccolo
First performed November 1985, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, by Pierre-Yves Artaud EP 7320
Dillug-Kefitsah (1976) 3 minutes
Solo Piano
First performed October 1978, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Festival, by Keith Swallow EP 7241
dragonfly (2009) 3 minutes
Solo Piano
First performed 26 November 2009, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, by Noriko Kawai EP 71929
dragonfly (2009) 3 minutes
Solo Piano
First performed 26 November 2009, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, by Noriko Kawai EP 71929
echo the angelus (2018) 27 minutes
Solo Piano
First performed by Noriko Kawai at HCMFUK, 22 November 2020 EP 73508
Evening Rain (1981) 6 minutes
Solo Voice see Works for Voice for full details
The Freiburg Diptych (2019) 35 minutes
Solo Violin, Tape & Live Electronics
Commissioned by Musik der Jahrhunderte Stuttgart and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. First performed by Irvine Arditti at ECLAT Festival, February 2020. EP 73465
Fūjin (2010) 7 minutes
Solo Piano
Commissioned by Matthew Bribitzer-Stull for the 2010-11 Minnesota High School Music Listening Contest EP 72098
Parjanya-Vata (1981) 12 minutes
Solo Cello
First performed May 1981, British Music Information Centre, London, by Alan Brett EP 7247
Purple Blooms and Scarlet Stains (2018) 3 minutes
Solo Piano
Private commission EP 73253
Sgothan (1984) 11 minutes
Solo Flute
Commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture
First performed July 1984, La Rochelle Festival, by Pierre-Yves Artaud EP 7307
Shrouded Mirrors (1988) 8 minutes
Solo Guitar
Commissioned by Curo Ltd (Sweden)
First performed May 1988, Busto Arsizio, Italy, by Magnus Andersson EP 7359
Siorram (1992) 8 minutes
Solo Viola
Commissioned by Musica Libera (Brussels)
First performed September 1992, Brussels, by Garth Knox EP 7415
Spleen (1980) 11 minutes
Solo Piano
First performed December 1980, British Music Information Centre, London, by Michael Finnissy EP 7244
2 Studies for Accordion (2001) 6 minutes
Solo Accordion
First performed 2001, Venice, by Theodoro Anzelotti EP 7597
Ti.re-Ti.ke-Dha (1979) 7 minutes
Solo Drummer
First performed April 1982, South Bank, London, by Simon Limbrick EP 7242
le vent, l’arbre et le temps (1993) 8 minutes
Solo Double Bass (part 7 of L’évolution du vol)
First performed December 1993, Antwerp by Lode Leire (Ensemble Champ d’Action)
Score available on special order from the publishers
Duos
l’ascension (1993) 5 minutes
Percussion (2 players) (part 3 of L’évolution du vol)
First performed September 1993, Musica ’93, Strasbourg, by Emmanuel Séjourné and Guy Frisch (Ensemble Accroche-Note)
Score available on special order from the publishers
black/nebulae (1995) 12 minutes
Two Pianos
Commissioned by Musica Libera (Brussels)
First performed November 1995, Huddersfield Festival, by Le Bureau des Pianistes: Laurence Cornez and Sachiko Yoshida
EP 7438 available on special order from the publishers
l’être-ange (1993) 3 minutes
Female Voice (Hurdy-Gurdy) and Eb Clarinet (part 4 of L’évolution du vol)
First performed December 1993, Antwerp by Hilde Torgersen and Takashi Yamane (Ensemble Champ d’Action)
Score available on special order from the publishers
The Hesperides (2007) 19 minutes
Cello and Piano
Commissioned by the Woodend Barn Arts Centre, Banchory and the Ultima Festival, Oslo for Rohan de Saram and Noriko Kawai, with funds provided by the Scottish Arts Council and the Ultima Festival
First performed October 2007, Oslo, by Noriko Kawai (piano) and Rohan de Saram (cello) EP 7988
l’homme et la vérité (1993) 4 minutes
Female Voice and Piano (part 2 of L’évolution du vol)
Commissioned by the Woodend Arts Association Banchory and Ultima Festival Oslo
First performed December 1993, Antwerp, by Hilde Torgersen and Johan Bossers (Ensemble Champ d’Action) Score available on special order from the publishers
A Roaring Flame (1981–82) 11 minutes
Female Voice and Double Bass see Works for Voice for full details
Time Lag Zerø (1982) 7 minutes
Female Voice and Viola see Works for Voice for full details
Todesengel (1996) 8 minutes
Clarinet and Vibraphone
ECAT/Accroche-Note commission for Ensemble Accroche-Note
First performed February 1997, Edinburgh, by Ensemble Accroche-Note: Armand Angster and Emmanuel Sejourné EP 7483
Traumwerk Book 1 (1995) 25 minutes
Twelve Duos for Two Violins
First complete performance January 1997, ICA, London, by Irvine Arditti and Graeme Jennings (Arditti and Mieko Kanno performed duos 1–4 at Charterhouse, London in January 1995, and duos 1–7 at the Huddersfield Festival in November 1995) EP 7452
Traumwerk Book 1 was awarded the 1997 Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Chamber-scale Composition.
Traumwerk Book 2 (2001) 17 minutes
Violin and Harpsichord
Commissioned by Tage für Neue Musik, Zürich
First performed November 2001 by David Alberman and Jane Chapman EP 7600
Traumwerk Book 3 (2002) 30 minutes
Violin and Piano
Dedicated to Richard Steinitz
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for Irvine Arditti and Noriko Kawai
First performed 2 June 2002, The Guildhall, Bath, by Irvine Arditti (violin) and Noriko Kawai (piano) EP 7648
“…upon the cloudy night” (2009) 3 minutes
Countertenor and Piano
Commissioned by NMC Records for the NMC Songbook
First performed by Andrew Watts (countertenor), Andrew Ball (piano) EP 71749
Chamber Ensemble (3–20 players)
The Acrobat (2022) 10 minutes
Accordion, Electric Organ or Keyboard, Percussion (1 player)
Commissioned for project “33,7” presented by United Instruments of Lucilin for Esch 2022 - European Capital of Culture, with the support of the Ernst von Siemens Foundation
First performed by United Instruments of Lucilin in September 2022 at Esch-sur-Alzette, European Capital of Culture EP 73644
Circe (2017) 14 minutes
For 16 players in Six Scenes 1(Picc).1(/Ca).1(/Bcl/CbCl).1(/Cbsn) - 1.1.1.1 - Perc - 2Pf(II/Kb) - Str(1.1.1.1.1)
Part 3 of the projected cycle PHARMAKEIA of four works
Commissioned by Ensemble Musikfabrik and Kunststiftung NRW
First performed by Ensemble Musikfabrik, conducted by Peter Rundel, on 25 February at WDR Funkhaus, Cologne EP 73195
East 11th St NY 10003 (1982) 20 minutes
6Perc (part 1 of the Nine Rivers Cycle)
First performed October 1982, St John’s Smith Sq., London, by Lontano, conducted by Odaline de la Martinez EP 7298
L’ECRAN parfum (1988) 10 minutes
6Vln and 3Perc (part 2 of the Nine Rivers Cycle)
First performed April 1989, Oslo, by Oslo Sinfonietta, conducted by Christian Eggen EP 7402
éileadh sguaibe (1990) 12 minutes
2Hn, 2Tpt, T-/B-tbn, B-tbn, B-tbn, Tba, Perc (2 players) and Live Electronics (part 7 of the Nine Rivers Cycle) Commissioned by the City of Glasgow and Scottish Arts Council
First performed January 1991, Glasgow, by Paragon Ensemble, conducted by David Davies EP 7407
EMBLEMATA: Carnival (2021) 35 minutes
15 Character Pieces for 6 Players
Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, Piano/Electronic Keyboard, Violin, Cello Commissioned by Red Note Ensemble
First performed by Red Note Ensemble at HCMFUK, 19 November 2021 EP 73556
La femme invisible (1989) 16 minutes
Fl (Picc), A-fl (B-fl), Ob, Ca (Ob), Cl, B-cl, 2S-sax (II=A-sax), Perc (3 Players), Pf (part 4 of the Nine Rivers Cycle) Commissioned by the Holst Foundation and Greater London Arts
First performed June 1989, Almeida Festival, London, by Music Projects/London conducted by Richard Bernas EP 7404
Introitus (1989–90) 28 minutes
6Vln, 2Vla, 2Vc, 2Db, Tape and Live Electronics (part 8 of the Nine Rivers Cycle) Commissioned by IRCAM
First performed May 1990, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, by Ensemble InterContemporain/IRCAM technicians conducted by Peter Eötvös EP 7408
The Leuven Triptych (2009) 45 minutes
Fl(Picc, A-fl, B-fl), Ob(Ca), Clar(Eb, B-cl), Bsn, Tbn, 1Perc, Hp, Gtr(E-gtr), Pf(synth), Vc, Db Commissioned by Ictus Ensemble, Bruxelles, BBC Radio 3 and Transit New Music Festival, Leuven First performed October 2009, Transit New Music Festival Leuven, by Ictus Ensemble EP 71972
The Louth Work ‘Orphic fragments’ (2017) 60 minutes
Voice, Cl, Perc, Pf, Vla, Vc, Electronics
Commissioned by Eamonn Quinn for Louth Contemporary Music Society with funding provided by the Arts Council of Ireland
First performed on 29 April 2017 by Payee Chen and Crash Ensemble, conducted by Sinead Hayes, at St Peter’s Church of Ireland, Drogheda EP 73053
Lumen naturae (1992) 8 minutes Vln, Vla, Vc
Commissioned by Aujourd’hui Musiques (Perpignan)
First performed November 1992, Perpignan, by Ensemble Ex Novo di Venezia EP 7424
The New York Triptych (2011–12) 40 minutes
Fl(Picc, A-fl, B-fl), Ob(Ca), Clar(Eb, B-cl), Pf, 1Perc, SW Receiver, CD player, Vln, Vla, Vc
Commissioned by Talea Ensemble, New York, made possible by a grant from the Fromm Music Foundation
First performed 16 July 2012, Internationales Musikinstitut Darmstadt, by Talea Ensemble, conducted by Alex Lipowski EP 72293
nuée (1991) 4 minutes
Bass Clarinet and Percussion (2 players) ad lib. (part 5 of L’évolution du vol)
First performed September 1991, Musica ’91, Strasbourg, by Angster, Séjourné and Frisch (Ensemble AccrocheNote)
Score available on special order from the publishers
L’œuvre au noir (1990) 11 minutes
B-fl (A-fl & Picc & Tgl), Bsn (Cbsn & Crotales), T-/B-tbn, B-tbn, Perc (2 players), Hp (Sleigh Bells), 2Vc (I=Rainstick, II=Crotales), Db (Sleigh Bells) and Live Electronics (part 6 of the Nine Rivers Cycle)
Commissioned by the City of Glasgow and Scottish Arts Council
First performed January 1991, Glasgow by Paragon Ensemble conducted by David Davies EP 7406
…Once Upon a Time (1980) 10 minutes
A-fl (Picc), Ob (Ca), Cl, Bsn, Hn, Tpt, Tbn, Db
First performed July 1980, Lyons Concert Hall, York by Lontano conducted by Peter Wiegold EP 7243
Oslo/Triptych (2011) 35 minutes
Fl(Picc, B-Fl), Cl(Cl-Eb, B-cl, CB-cl), Perc, Pf(Ind.Harm/Synth)), 2Vln, Vla, Vcl, 4 Shortwave Receivers, Transformed Voice
Dedicated to Frank Madlener
Commissioned by Cikada, Norway EP 72196a
Redemption (1995) 12 minutes
Cl, Vln, Pf
Commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture
First performed October 1996, Musica ’96, Strasbourg, by A. Angster, M. Kanno and Y. Sugawara (Ensemble Accroche-Note) EP 7453
Le Rivage (1984) 13 minutes
Fl (Picc + A-fl), Ob, Cl (B-cl), Hn, Bsn
Commissioned by the South West Arts Association
First performed May 1984, Bath Festival, by Vega Wind Quintet EP 7306
the soadie waste (2003) 15 minutes ‘wedding receptions, dances and housie housie’ part 2 of Anthropology
Solo Piano – 2Vln, Vla, Vc
Dedicated to the memory of Robert Lenkiewicz
Commissioned by the Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble
First performed 19 March 2003, Ohio, by Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble, directed by Timothy Weiss EP7686
String Quartet (1983) 20 minutes Commissioned by the Yorkshire Arts Association.
First performed November 1983, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, by Arditti String Quartet EP 7302
String Quartet No.2 (1991) 17 minutes Commissioned by the French Ministry of Culture
First performed October 1991, Musica ’91, Strasbourg, by Arditti String Quartet EP 7412
String Quartet No.3 (1998) 18 minutes Commisisoned by South West German Radio for the Donaueschingen Music Days
First performed October 1998, Donaueschingen, by Arditti String Quartet EP 7522
String Quartet No.4 (2005) 23 minutes Commissioned by the Festival Archipel Geneva in partnership with the Helsinki Festival for the Quatour Diotima
First performed 7 March 2005, Musica Nova Helsinki Festival, by Quatour Diotima EP 7764
The Fourth String Quartet was awarded the 2006 Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Chamber-scale Composition.
String Quartet No.5 (2009) 14 minutes
First performed November 2009, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, by Arditti String Quartet EP 71899
String Quartet No.6 (2010) 15 minutes
Dedicated to James ‘Jimmy’ Reid Commissioned by Donaueschinger Musiktage for the festival’s ‘QUARDITTIADE’
First performed 16 October 2010, Donaueschingen, by Arditti Quartet, Quatour Diotima and JACK Quartet EP 72099
String Quartet No.7 (2013) 14 minutes
Commissioned by Musica, festival international des musiques d’aujourd’hui de Strasbourg
First performed 28 September 2013, Salle de la Bourse, Strasbourg, by Arditti String Quartet, EP 72493
String Quartet No. 8 (2017) 19 minutes
Commissioned by ProQuartet, Paris and Philharmonie de Paris
Premiered by the Arditti Quartet on 16 January 2018 at the Ampitheatre, Cite de la Musique, Paris EP 73172
String Quartet No. 9 (2017-18) 19 minutes
Premiered by the Arditti Quartet on 25 November 2018 at St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival EP 73282
String Trio (1990–91) 8 minutes
Vln, Vla, Vc
Commissioned by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science and Arts
First performed July 1992, Darmstadt, by Trio Recherche EP 7411
Tanz/haus : triptych 2017 (2017) 45 minutes 1(/Picc/Afl).0.1(/Bcl).0 - Perc - Pf(/Kb) - Acdn - ElecGtr - Str(1.0.0.1.1) - Electronics
Commissioned by Red Note Ensemble, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Sound, Transit and November Music
First performed on 17 November 2017 by Red Note Ensemble, conducted by Geoffrey Paterson, at St Paul’s, Huddersfield EP 73141
Theatrum : figurae (2007) 16 minutes Oboe, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone, Percussion Commisisoned by Warsaw Autumn Festival
First performed September 2007, Warsaw, by Elision EP 71028
torii (2009-10) 15 minutes Picc, CA, CB-cl, Cbsn, Hn, Tpt, Tbn, Tba, 2Perc, Pf, Hp, 2Vln, Vla, Vcl, DB Commissioned by Casa da Música, Porto, Portugal
First performed 23 March 2010, Casa da Música, Porto, Portugal, by Remix Ensemble, conducted by Peter Ründel EP 72050
Überschreiten (1986) 24 minutes
Fl, Ob, Cl, B-cl, Bsn (Cbsn), Hn, Tpt, Tbn, T-tba, Perc, Pf (Hammond Org), 2Vln, Vla, Vc, Db (part 1 of a ‘German’ triptych; see helle Nacht and Blitzschlag)
Commissioned by the Arts Council of Great Britain
First performed June 1986, South Bank, London, by London Sinfonietta conducted by Lothar Zagrosek EP 7348
Vernal Showers (1992) 14 minutes
Solo Vln, Fl (Picc + A-fl), Ob, Perc, Hpd, Hp, Mand, Gtr, Vla, Vc, Db
Commissioned by the Nieuw Ensemble
First performed January 1993, Rotterdam, by Irvine Arditti, Nieuw Ensemble, conducted by Ed Spanjaard EP 7421
Windows and Canopies (1985) 22 minutes
2Fl (Picc + A-fl), 2Ob (II=Ca), Bsn (Cbsn), 2Hn, Perc, 7Vln, 2Vla, 2Vc, Db
Commissioned by the Gulbenkian Foundation
First performed October 1985, Festival d’Automne, Paris, by Ensemble Alternance, conducted by Luca Pfaff EP 7319
Zone (…de azul) (1983) 7 minutes
Cl, Hn, Tpt, Tbn, Pf, Vln, Vla, Vc
First performed January 1986, Almeida Theatre, London, by Circle, conducted by Roger Heaton EP 7308
Vocal and Choral Works
Come live with me (1981–82) 15 minutes
Female Voice, Fl (Picc + A-fl), Ob (Ob d’a & Ca), Perc, Pf (part 2 of a triptych; see Who do you love and A Roaring Flame)
First performed February 1982, South Bank, London, by Josephine Nendick, Suoraan, conducted by James Clarke EP 7248
Evening Rain (1981) 6 minutes
Solo Voice
First performed April 1981, Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham, by John Potter EP 7246
L’évolution du vol (1991–93) 40 minutes
Female Voice, Cl Eb (B-cl + Cb-cl), Perc (2 players), Pf, Db
1. la pensée rêverie: voice and harmonium (2’)
2. l’homme et la vérité: voice and piano (4’)
3. l’ascension: percussion (2 players) (5’)
4. l’être-ange: voice (hurdy-gurdy) and eb clarinet (3’)
5. nuée: b-cl, perc (2 players) (4’)
6. descente/désir: voice, b-cl, db (7’)
7. le vent, l’arbre et le temps: solo double bass (8’)
8. historiées faces de la danse: voice, cb-cl, 2 perc, pf, db (5’)
Movements 2–7 may each be performed as individual works; Movements 1 and 8 may only be performed as part of the cycle.
Commissioned by ‘Antwerpen 1993’ for the ensembles Accroche-Note and Champ d’Action
First complete performance December 1993, Antwerp, by Hilde Torgersen, Ensemble Champ d’Action Accroche-Note gave the first performances of nuée (September 1991) and l’ascension (September 1993) EP 7413
Hyades (1998) 22 minutes
12 Solo Voices
Commissioned by the University of St. Denis, Paris.
First performed November 1998, Huddersfield Festival by Ensemble Soli-Tutti. EP 7521
Stabat Mater dolorosa (2014) 76 minutes
Solo tpt - 3S.3A.3T.3B - 1(/Picc/Afl).0.1(/Eb/Bcl/Cbcl).1 - 0.0.1.0 - 1Perc - Pf - ElecGtr - 1.0.0.1.1 - Electronics
Commissed by BBC Radio 3, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival and Casa da Musica, Porto, Portugal
First performance given by the London Sinfonietta, cond. Ilan Volkov, 23 November 2014, St Paul’s Hall, Huddersfield EP 72642
Oceanos (c.1985–96) 22 minutes
Voices (c.16), 2.2.2.2Sax.1– 2. 2.2.1 – 6Perc – Pf – Hp – Str(3.3.2.2.2) – Live Electronics (woodwind and piano with doublings) (part 9 of the Nine Rivers Cycle)
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the 1996 Promenade Concerts
First performed August 1996, Royal Albert Hall, London by Polyphony, Music Projects/London conducted by Richard Bernas. EP 7409
…residue (1999) 22 minutes
Double Choir (24 voices)
Commissioned by West German Radio.
First performed April 1999, Witten New Music Days by SWR Vokalensemble Stuttgart. EP 7533
A Roaring Flame (1981–82) 11 minutes
Female Voice and Double Bass (part 3 of a triptych; see Who do you love and Come live with me)
First performed January 1983, Bloomsbury Theatre, London by Linda Hirst and Kevin Rundell. EP 7249
Temp’est (1994) 25 minutes
Female Voice, Fl, Picc, Ob, B-cl, S-sax, B-tbn, Perc (2 players), Pf, Elec Gtr, 2Vln, Vla, Vc, Db
Commissioned by the BBC/Arts Council of England for the BBC2 television series Sound on Film.
First broadcast: April 1995.
Music recorded by Sarah Stowe and Music Projects/London. Conducted by Richard Bernas. Film directed by Simon Reynell. Available on hire from the Film, Video and Broadcasting Dept., Arts Council of England EP 7437
Time Lag Zerø (1982) 7 minutes
Female Voice and Viola
First performed May 1982, Brighton Festival by Penelope Walmsley-Clarke and Garth Knox. EP 7295
“…upon the cloudy night” (2009) 3 minutes
Countertenor and Piano
Commissioned by NMC Records for the NMC Songbook. First performed by Andrew Watts, Andrew Ball. EP 71749
Vapor (1999) 21 minutes
Four Voices (SATB) and String Quartet Commissioned by Musik der Jahrhunderte. First performed February 2000, ECLAT, Stuttgart by Neue Vokalsolisten Stuttgart, Arditti String Quartet. EP 7558
Viriditas (1993–94) 17 minutes
Sixteen Solo Voices (4S, 4A, 4T, 4B) (part 3 of the Nine Rivers Cycle) Commissioned by the British Broadcasting Corporation. First performed March 1994, Ars Musica, Brussels by BBC Singers conducted by Simon Joly. EP 7403
Who do you love (1980–81) 10 minutes Voice, Fl (Picc + B-fl), Cl, Perc, Vln (Vla), Vc (part 1 of a triptych; see Come live with me and A Roaring Flame) First performed February 1981, ICA, London by John Potter, Gemini conducted by Peter Wiegold. EP 7245
Orchestra/Large Ensemble
Blitzschlag (1988–96) 28 min Fl Solo- 2.2.2.B-cl.2.Cbsn-3.2.2.1-Timp-4Perc-Hp-Cel-Pf-Str(22.0.8.6.4) (Part 3 of a ‘German’ triptych; see Überschreiten and helle Nacht) Commissioned by Radio France.
First performed August 1997, Edinburgh Festival by Pierre-Yves Artaud, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins. EP 7410
The Gates (2016) String Quartet - 3(I/Picc).3(III/Ca).2+Bcl.3(III/Cbsn) - 4.3.3.1 - 4Perc - Cel - Pf - Hp - Str(14.12.10.8.6) Commissioned by Südwestrundfunk
First performed by the Arditti Quartet and the SWR Symponieorchester, conducted by Pierre-André Valade, on 14 October 2016 at Donaueschinger Musiktage EP 72891
helle Nacht (1986–87) 25 minutes 3(I,II&III=Picc + A-fl).3(III=Ca).3(III=B-cl + Cb-cl).3(III=Cbsn)-4.3.3(III=B-tbn).1-5Perc-Hp-Pf-Str(30.0.12.10.8) (Part 2 of a ‘German’ triptych; see Überschreiten and Blitzschlag)
British Broadcasting Corporation Commission.
First performed September 1987, Musica Nova, Glasgow by Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Matthias Bamert. EP 7354
ignis noster (1991–92) 22 minutes 4(II=Picc).4(IV=Ca).4IV=B-cl).4(IV=Cbsn).6.5.4.1-4Perc-Hp-Pf(Cel&Harm)-Str(30.0.12.10.8)
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the 1992 Promenade Concerts
First performed July 1992, Royal Albert Hall, London by BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alexander Lazarev. EP 7414
La navette (2001) 21 minutes 3(II=Picc, III=A-fl).2.Ca.3(Cl Eb, B-cl).2.Cbsn—4.3.2.B-Tbn.B-Tba—Timp—Perc—Pf—Cel—Hp—Str(14.12.10.8.6)
Commissioned by Südwestrundfunk for Donaueschinger Musiktage 2001.
First performed October 2001, Donaueschinger Musiktage by Südwestrundfunk Sinfonieorchester conducted by Sylvain Cambreling. EP 7598
Physis I & II (2007) 30 minutes
3(I=Picc,III=A-fl).3(3=Ca).3(I=Cl Eb, III= B-cl).3(III=Cbsn).A-Sax.Ten-Sax—4(Wag-Tba).3. 2.B-Tbn.B-Tba—Timp— 4/5Perc—Pf—Cel—Hp—Str(14.12.10.8.6)
Commissioned by the Orchestre de Paris.
EP 71041
Piano Concerto ‘Andromeda’ (2006) 35 minutes
Solo Piano – 3(I=Picc).3(3=Ca).3(I=ClEb, III= B-cl&Cb-cl).3(III=Cbsn)—4.3(I=TptD). 2.B-Tbn.B-Tba—Timp— 4Perc—Cel—Hp—Str(14.12.10.8.6)
Commissioned by the BBC for the 2006 BBC Proms.
First performed 10th August 2006, BBC Proms by BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ilan Volkov (cond.), Noriko Kawai (Solo Piano).
EP 7772
Via Sacra (1999) 40 minutes
Cycle for Orchestra; Genos, Sigma’s Polka, Gamma lugubre, Lapsus (ex machina…)
Gamma lugubre: 3(I=Picc).3(III=Ca).2.B-cl.3(III=Cbsn)-4.3.2.B-tbn.1-Timp-3Perc-Cel-Pf-Hp-Str(14.12.10.8.6)
Genos, Lapsus and Sigma’s Polka: 3(I=Picc).3(III=Ca).1.Cl E-.B-cl.3(III=Cbsn)-4.2.B-tbn.1-Timp.3Perc.Cel-Pf-Hp-Str(14.12.10.8.6)
Commissioned by the Société Philharmonique de Bruxelles.
First performed March 2000, Ars Musica, Brussels by Orchestre Philharmonique de Luxembourg conducted by Patrick Davin.
EP 7565
Violin Concerto (2000) 26 minutes
1.Picc.A-fl.2.Ca.2.B-cl.2.Cbsn-4.3.2.B-tbn.1-Timp-3Perc-Hp-Pf-Str(14.12.10.8.6)
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for 2000 Promenade Concerts.
First performed August 2000, Royal Albert Hall, London by Thomas Zehetmair (vln), BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins.
EP 7593
White Numbers (2012) 5 minutes
1.Picc.A-fl.2.Ca.1.ClEb.B-cl.2.Cbsn–4.3.2.B-tbn.1–3Perc–Cel–Str(14.12.10.8.6)
Commissioned by Euskadiko Orquestra Sinfonikoa / Orquesta Sinfonica De Euskadi First performed 26 January 2012 at Kursaal Auditorium, San Sebastián by the Orquesta Sinfonica de Euskadi conducted by Gerd Albrecht.
EP 72293
Opera/Stage Works
Philomela (2004) 100 minutes Opera in Five Acts Libretto by James Dillon Soli Sop, Mez-Sop, B-Bar – 1(Picc, A-fl, B-fl)1(Cor). 1(B-cl).A-Sax.1(C-Bsn)–1.1.1.1–Pf(Cel)–Acdn–1Perc–Hp–Str(1.1.1.1.1)
First performance 18th September 2004, Oporto by Remix Ensemble, Anu Komsi (Philomela), Susan Narucki (Procne), Lionel Peintre (Tereus) Jurjen Hempel (conductor)
EP 7735
The Nine Rivers Cycle
East 11th St NY 10003 (1982) 20 minutes
6 Percussionists
First performed October 1982, St John’s Smith Square, London by Lontano conducted by Odaline de la Martinez. EP 7298
L’ECRAN parfum (1988) 10 minutes 6 Violins and 3 Percussionists
First performed April 1989, Oslo by Oslo Sinfonietta conducted by Christian Eggen. EP 7402
Viriditas (1993–94) 17 minutes
Sixteen Solo Voices (4S, 4A, 4T, 4B) Commissioned by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
First performed March 1994, Ars Musica, Brussels by BBC Singers conducted by Simon Joly. EP 7403
La femme invisible (1989) 16 minutes Fl (Picc), A-fl (B-fl), Ob, Ca (Ob), Cl, B-cl, 2S-sax (II=A-sax), Perc (3 Players), Pf Commissioned by the Holst Foundation and Greater London Arts.
First performed June 1989, Almeida Festival, London by Music Projects/London conducted by Richard Bernas. EP 7404
La coupure (c.1989–2000) 60 minutes
Percussion (1 player) and Live Electronics Commissioned by IRCAM, Ars Musica and Archipel. First performed March 2000, IRCAM, Paris by Steve Schick. Performance material in preparation
L’œuvre au noir (1990) 11 minutes B-fl (A-fl & Picc & Tgl), Bsn (Cbsn & Crotales), T-/B-tbn, B-tbn, Perc (2 players), Hp (Sleigh Bells), 2Vc (I=Rainstick, II=Crotales), Db (Sleigh Bells) and Live Electronics Commissioned by the City of Glasgow and Scottish Arts Council.
First performed January 1991, Glasgow by Paragon Ensemble conducted by David Davies. EP 7406
éileadh sguaibe (1990) 12 minutes 2Hn, 2Tpt, T-/B-tbn, B-tbn, B-tbn, Tba, Perc (2 players) and Live Electronics (part 7 of the Nine Rivers Cycle Commissioned by the City of Glasgow and Scottish Arts Council.
First performed January 1991, Glasgow by Paragon Ensemble conducted by David Davies. EP 7407
Introitus (1989–90) 28 minutes
6Vln, 2Vla, 2Vc, 2Db, Tape and Live Electronics Commissioned by IRCAM.
First performed May 1990, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris by Ensemble InterContemporain/IRCAM technicians conducted by Peter Eötvös. EP 7408
Oceanos (c.1985–96) 22 minutes
Voices (c.16), 2.2.2.2Sax. – 2.2.2.1 – 6Perc – Pf – Hp – Str(3.3.2.2.2) – Live Electronics (woodwind and piano with doublings)
Commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for the 1996 Promenade Concerts.
The first complete performance of the Nine Rivers Cycle was given on 14 November 2010 at City Halls, Glasgow with members of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Singers conducted by Simon Joly, Les Percussions de Strasbourg, Steven Schick solo percussion, Carl Faia software and sound design, audio engineer, Ian Dearden/David Sheppard (of Sound Intermedia : sound projection), Ross Karre video design, Jaime Oliver software and sound design, audio engineer, Steven Schick and Jessica Cottis conductors.
The Nine Rivers Cycle was awarded the 2010 Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Large-scale Composition
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